Hello-- I will be doing a long distance hike this summer in Switzerland (G'wald to Sargans) with someone who is a Type 1 diabetic. She requires multiple insulin injections each day, and will be bringing a supply of syringes from home. She is wondering:

- Does she need any special papers to bring her insulin syringes into the country? (It will be a 2 week hike for her, so this will be something like 50 syringes.)

-How difficult would it be, and what papers would she need, to obtain additional insulin syringes from a pharmacy in Switzerland, should she run out?

- Where can one properly dispose of used insulin syringes?

Specialized questions, I realize, but am confident that someone on this forum will have the answers.

I can't actually help you with this, but I would just like to add that she should check the requirements for any countries you will be transiting by air on the way to Switzerland as well. Usually their embassy websites have ínformation or will provide contact details for getting further information about specific items.

Hi-- Just to close this out for the benefit of any others who may be similarly situated, I received a very helpful response from SwissMedic.ch. It is permissible to bring in enough insulin (and insulin syringes) for the period of the stay (2 weeks, in our case), but the traveler should have with them a physician's prescription to prove that they are for a personal medical condition. And, used syringes may be disposed of at pharmacies.

Just to share, my son is diabetic and each time he travels he gets a letter from the Hospital who is taking care of him to indicate He is type 1 diabetic {His condition} and the type of medication he takes. The letter did not state that used syringes may be disposed of at the pharmacies.

For type 1 diabetic patient,

it would be good that since you are travelling with her to know the signs of hypoglycemia and how to help her.

She must bring a bit more than enough insulin and syringes for travelling because it might not be easy for her to purchase while traveling. You will lose time in searching and since you are hiking, there might not be a pharmacy around.